Parma is in North Italy, in the Emilia-Romagna region, halfway between Bologna and Milan: a strategic position that makes it possible to quickly reach financial and tourist destinations such as Venice, Ferrara, Verona, and Turin, and resorts along the Ligurian coast and the Romagnola Riviera on the Adriatic Coast.

BY TRAIN

Fresh from a complete makeover (reopened in May 2014), Parma’s railway station, close to the historic city centre, provides links to Italy’s main cities and the top European capitals. Almost all the trains on the Milan-Bologna line stop at least once an hour, and there are fairly frequent connections on the Turin-Bologna and Genoa-Bologna lines, as well as trains that reach the Ligurian and Adriatic coasts. Rome and Florence can be reached directly by Intercity and Eurostar. When required, there is also a pre-bookable shuttle service linking Parma with the Mediopadana High Speed Railway Station in Reggio Emilia. This service, for a minimum of two persons, uses a seven-seater minibus. The fares cost: €25 single, €45 return. There are supplements for services booked at the last minute, up to one hour before departure (€5) and for transport from the Province of Parma. It is possible to book the shuttle for private use: €75. A 10-journey pass costs €500.
For information and bookings: Tel. 39 393.919.8855.

BY PLAIN

Parma has an airport: called “Giuseppe Verdi” five kilometres from the city centre. It is easily reached from the city centre by taxi, or number 6 bus. RyanAir provides flights to London (on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday), to Cagliari (on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday) and to Trapani (from Monday to Saturday). In addition, during the summer, there are seasonal flights for some tourist destinations. For info: tel 39 0521.951511 and 39 0521.951501, Website: www.parma-airport.it. For those intending to fly, Parma is also easily reached from the airports of Milano Linate (120km away), Milano Malpensa (170km) and Bologna (93km)

BY CAR

There are various ways to reach Parma by car:

using the motorways that link it to other cities in the Region: A1 Milano – Bologna (Parma exit) and the A15 Parma – La Spezia (Parma Ovest exit);

using the main roads that link it to nearby cities, villages and hamlets of the Province such as: Via Emilia, Via Mantova, Via La Spezia and Via Cremonese, Via Colorno, Via Langhirano, or Via Traversetolo;

using the ring road (Tangenziale) which, by describing an ideal ring around the city, offers a short-cut from Parma to the main roads and motorway entrances and exits.

BY COACH OR TOURIST BUS

Parma has coach links to numerous Italian and European cities provided by the Beltatour, Sena and Eurolines companies. On the website italybus.it it is possible to search by entering departure and destination points: the system then shows the times, the frequency, and the company providing the service, with helpful contacts to ask for further information or to make a booking.

As far as tourist buses are concerned, drivers should let their passengers off at the bus shelter in Viale Toschi, the road that runs along the river, facing the railway station, near Palazzo della Pilotta. Various free parking options are available:

the parking lot next to the Centro Torri shopping mall in Via San Leonardo

the Palasport parking lot in Via Silvio Pellico

various Park-and-Ride facilities (Ovest, Nord, Sud, Est and Via Traversetolo), which provide a shuttle bus service to the city centre. A ticket costs two Euro and is valid all day on the city bus network.